Had a Nexus 4 phone with straight talk and loved it. Then convinced myself that since I hardly ever actually used the phone (I mean normally less than 15 mins a month) I was going to go tablet only for the bigger screen so sold the nexus 4.

I would love to have cellular, but not a deal breaker. I am near WiFi 90% of the time.

I do not do any work on the tablet. I surf the web, listen to music, very rarely watch a video, read quite a bit on the kindle app, use navigation a bit, and am confused as to how to use this without data service but am told it can be done... but mostly just surf the web.. I love the 10 inch screens, could live with an 8 inch.

Don't suggest anything apple please... In the past 3 years had an iPad 1 @ iPad 2. Loved them for the most part but HATE iTunes and apple in general. I admit I did try out the iPad mini for a few days but the iTunes thing got to me and I returned it.

Don't suggest anything I have to root, cause I don't even know what that means or a tablet where I have to do any work around as I am not tech savvy enough to understand how to do it...

I am all about Google, google � and love how everything syncs up with them without me doing a thing. Having loved my nexus 4 I thought I would love the nexus 7 but found the screen too small. I liked the squarer iPad mini screen much better. Next bought the galaxy note 10.1 but it was very laggy. Next bought the nexus 10 but it has rebooted on me every single day, at least every couple of hours. The battery is pathetic, takes almost 10 hours to fully charge, then discharges in 7. So disappointed in the nexus 10 and it will be going back.

Have considered the galaxy note 8, and I have read good professional about the Asus TF700 (office max has them for $379 currently) Good price, but thought I would ask here first for advice, am I overlooking something? I am tired of buying and returning tablets! I wish there was a tablet as good as the iPad but free from the apple world.

Who forces you to use iTunes if you don't want to? I have recently migrated to a Mac notebook and desktop maybe a couple of months ago, and I can say that I have not found my way to iTunes in all of that time.

Flyboy, I have about 800 songs on my Google music, I can completely bypass iTunes? What is the best way to do so? I don't have a regular computer at all anymore, and iTunes forces you to have one, or at least they used to. Sorry, I am completely clueless when it comes to this stuff.

If you want the best battery life buy the iPad.

iPad, hands down.

ummm..... I think my post may have been too long for anyone to actually read (especially the part where I stated no apple) so, unless I can sync my music to an iPad without a computer, and without using iTunes, iPads are out. Any other suggestions?

Amazing - apparently nobody can read any more on Flyertalk...

NC_Girl - I just picked up the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 - Nicely sized 8" tablet, stylus, MicroSD slot and plenty of ram/CPU. Very snappy, has of course all the Google goodies. At $399, definitely pricier than a Nexus 7 though. Many Best Buy stores now have a Samsung Experience in-store, so you can try out the Note 8. I LOVE mine.

The TF700 is definitely a good device, but I found mine too laggy - and the high-res screen doesn't really serve any purpose.

Other things I like about the Note 8:

Does HDMI out with a $15 dongle
Supports USB devices with a USB OTG plug
MicroSD
Good battery
Feels and looks awesome
Some GREAT cases on Amazon (the tablet supports case wake/lock)
Promo for free $25 Google Play credit.

If you have the $$$$, there is an international version of the Note 8 with cellular connectivity.

Sometimes I think you do these things on purpose

Unless you know of an iPad that isn't made by Apple, you too clearly didn't read what the OP said:

Thanks for taking the time to read my long post! I may head over to Best Buy and check it out. Where could I buy an international version?

They are mostly on Amazon and eBay - but that also means warranty may be an issue.

Check here for Samsung Experience Stores at BestBuy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Global-P...at297800050005

Never mind. It's not worth it.

Ummmm.... I thought Google's Music service was now available for iPad (launched at I/O?). Personally, I think the Note 8 is a good choice, but don't forget Nexus 7 32GB + Cellular.

I was not aware of Google music being available on iPad..... That would possibly send me back to look at the mini again. The mini screen was exactly what I wanted.

The nexus 7 screen just felt so small and cramped that I was just not happy with it. Otherwise it was pretty much perfect.

I am going to head to bestbuy in an hour or so, maybe I will hit the apple store next door to ask a few questions about Google apps and Google music on the mini.

ScottC - how is the Note 8 on the wearable vs. luggable trade-off?

The Intl version would be quite appealing to me but I think the size is just a bit too large to be wearable. For me, wearable is that it fit in a sportcoat/suit pocket.

My Nexus 7 3G fits in 75% of my coat pockets so it makes the cut-off. But anything wider just won't work.

IMO, if someone makes a "wearable" phablet around the Nexus 7 footprint (maybe N7 V2?), SDCard expansion and replaceable battery, they'd clean up.